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Deserving attention

We were pleased to learn recently that the veterans’ section at Baker City’s Mount Hope Cemetery is getting the attention it deserves.

The city, which owns and manages the cemetery, has set up an advisory group that will propose improvements to the section that includes more than 350 graves of military veterans.

Problems there include crooked headstones and uneven ground.

Although the upright grave markers in the veterans’ section aren’t
included in the cemetery’s perpetual care agreement (part of the cost
for other grave sites goes toward perpetual care of the cemetery
grounds), city officials rightly decided that conditions have
deteriorated to the point that repairs are needed.

The city, after all, set aside part of the cemetery to honor the unique contributions that veterans made to America.

This is not to say, of course, that the city should focus on the
veterans’ section while neglecting the rest of the cemetery. Each of
the more than 15,000 graves is precious ground to someone.

But we agree with the city that now is the time to devote more time and effort to sprucing up the veterans’ section.

And money, of course.

We hope the city succeeds in its application for a state grant.

And we’re confident that local veterans groups will contribute to this
worthwhile campaign to properly honor those who earned our respect in
life, and deserve it still in death.